Viral video shows knife attack on police

A video of a 35-year-old man wielding a knife at police outside the Hillbrow Police Station has gone viral on social media platform X, prompting widespread public debate about police use of force. Police on Friday confirmed the man’s arrest and court appearance following the incident, which occurred on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.

The three-minute-and-twelve-second video, shared early Friday morning, had been viewed more than 15 000 times by midday and widely reposted by users shocked at how the knife-wielding suspect managed to evade several officers.

The footage opens with four uniformed SAPS members surrounding the suspect as they repeatedly urge him to drop the knife. The man refuses, pacing aggressively and swinging the blade while behaving in what observers described as a frenzied or possessed manner.

At one point, a civilian attempts a flying kick from behind but misses as the suspect reacts swiftly. Another civilian tries to restrain him from behind, but the suspect continues to wield the knife fiercely, forcing officers to maintain their distance while calling for backup. More officers emerge from the charge office as the tense standoff continues.

The man taunts police with exaggerated movements as officers and civilians cautiously close in. Eventually, he is grabbed, wrestled to the ground, handcuffed, and taken inside the police station.

In the background of the video, several witnesses can be heard questioning why police did not use their firearms, given that the suspect was armed and posing a threat to both officers and bystanders.

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that the man had attacked a police officers who had just stepped out of the Client Service Centre. “More police officers were called and the suspect was disarmed and arrested. He appeared before Hillbrow Magistrate Court on Thursday, 11 December 2025, facing charges that include attack on police officers and possession of a dangerous weapon,” Masondo said.

Independent crime researcher Calvin Rafadi said that if a suspect is carrying a weapon that poses imminent danger, officers are permitted to shoot them in the foot to neutralise the threat.

Online users expressed frustration about the officers’ restraint. One wrote, “What are those guns for kanti. He’s carrying a knife.” Another asked, “When someone has a weapon, aren’t cops permitted to shoot? Eliminate the threat and move on.” A third commenter criticised the lack of non-lethal force, saying, “Since they were skeptical to shoot, why not pepper spray him.”

The video continues to fuel debate about police response tactics and public expectations of law enforcement in violent confrontations.